Machine for automatically playing phonograph records



April 28, 1931. PITTMAN 1,802,830

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PLAYING PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Original FiledSept. '7. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

April 28, 1931. G. H. PITTMAN MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PLAYINGPHONOGRAPH RECORDS 5 Sheets-Shet 2 L. y PM W N R m m m ,M n. W

Original Filed Sept. '7, 1926 April 28, 1931. G. H. PITTMAN MACHINE FORAUTOMATICALLY PLAYING PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Opiginal Filed Spt. '7. 1926 5Sheets-Sheet 5 [.K'VENTOR. 6190276 Affiazdmrc ATTORNEY.

M, v by k a ll April 28, 1931.

"G. H. PITTMAN MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PLAYING PHONOGRAPH RECORDSOriginal Filed Sept. '7. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. GYM/yeKPzfzmarv A TTORNE Y.

April 28, 1931. G. H. PITTMAKN MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PLAYINGPHONOGRAPH RECORDS Original Filed Sept. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 m &

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 28, 1931 UNITED STA GEORGE E, PITTMAN, OI JACKSON HEIGHTS,NEW YORK MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PLAYING PHONOGRAPH RECORDSApplication filed September 7, 1926, Serial No. 133,827. Renewed m 23,1929.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the continuousplaying of phonograph records, and it relates more particularly to thespecific arrangement and construction of the parts thereof.

While the primary object of the invention is to provide generallyamachine for the continuous playing of honograph records, it includes avariety of eatures in its construction,

not included, so far as the inventor is aware,

in machines of this character now in use.

The various objects and advantages of the invention will be betterunderstood from a perusal of the following detailed description, taken,in connection with the accompanying drawings,.forming part hereof and inwhich:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on line 4-4 ofFigure 2.

Figures 5 to 9 inclusive are detail sectional views of parts of themachine which will be referred to in more detail hereinafter.

Figure 10 is a sectional view, taken along line 1010 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along line 1111 of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view taken on line 12.12 of Figure 9,one of the springs 25a being omitted.

Figure 13 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 13-13 of Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a detail sectional view taken on line 14-14 ofF-igure 10. I

Figure 15 a is a view from underneath Figure 10.

Figure 16 is a detail view of a part of the re eating mechanism.

igure 17 is a detail view taken from Figures 5 and 6; and

Figure 18 is a detail view taken from Figure 6, the upper end of thegear arm being broken awa Proceeding in accordance with the drawingswherein similar numerals designate the various parts, 1 denotes a box orcabinet in which are included the mechanism of the machine, the cabinethaving a record magazine 2 adapted for the reception of a plurality ofrecords to be played, and a compartment 3 including a delivery chute 4for records which have been played. A compartment 5 is also provided fora collection of stock records other than those in the magazine andcompartment 3. The compartments each have doors 6 and the top of thecabinet swingable lids 7. The motive power for operating the mechanismis provided by a motor 8 seated upon the top of the compartment 5. Themotor shaft 9 has a pulley 10 which is connected by belt 11 to a pulley12, the'latter pulley being connected in turn by belt 13 to a pulley 14.From the pulley 14 there is connected a belt 15. Below and in advance ofthepulley 14 are pulleys 16 and 17,'respectively'.

Referring to Figure 9, the belt 15 from the pulley 14 is connected topulleylS,v which comprises a clutch element and includes at each side ona main shaft 19 rotatable members 20 and 21. The belt 22 to pulley 17 isconnected to the member 20 of the clutch and the belt 23 to pulley 16connects to member 21 of the clutch. A detail view of this clutch isshown in Figure 12, the pulley 18 having its sides provided withprotuberances 24 which fit in the recesses 25 when the clutch isengaged, the springs 25a retracting the pulley 18 from the clutchmembers, 20 or 21. Shaft 19 includes on one end a pulley 26 and is con-.nected by belt 27 to a shaft 28, see Figure 4,"

'and rotates continually the turn table 29 upon which the records arerevolved in playing them. The belt 15 derives its motion from a the themotor 8, through the reducing pulleys 12 and 14, and thus rotates mainpulley 18. This pulleyis afiixed by key 93 (see Figure 12)-.to the mainshaft 19, and is arranged to repeating the playing 01? a record is setin moexerted to either side.

main pulley 18 is determined by the fingers tion. Springs a are providedwhich operate to maintain the main pulley 18 in a neutral position atall times, unless pressure is The position of the 50, protruding fromsleeve 49a (in Figure 9) which is slidably arranged on square rod 48a;

This sleeve 49a: is moved from side to side by pressure applied to thepin 47 which projects upwardly so 'as to be engaged by either lever 43or 4312.

F or conveying the records R from the magazine 2 to the turntable 29there is provided a carriage 48, which includes the record-transferringmechanism. This carriage includes four posts 49 slidably arranged insleeves 50a, the sleeves being secured to a platform 3w. Dep ding fromthe platform are supports 54a see Figure 4) providing bearings for acentral cross-rod 54 which includes cams 55 and 56 with lugs 57. The camlugs 57 are seated in slots 53 in the bars 52 connecting two posts 49 oneach side of the carriage. The main cam 55 is rotated by the belt 17bfrom the shaft 17 a also rotating cam 56. Rotating these cams 55 and 56thus raises and lowers the entire carriage 48, which includes therecord-transferring mechanism.

As the main cams 55 and 56 make one complete slow revolution, it raisesand lowers the main carriage 48, which, operating through lug 84,carried by one of the bars 52, as shown in Figure 5, raises sleeve 82,which in turn moves bar 64. As bar '64 rises, its tip presses back thelatch 95, as shown in Figure 5, and as shown in greater detail inFigures 7 and 8. Bar 64 slides past latch "95, moves upward, thenreverses and starts back down withca-rriage 48 being pulled downward byspring 110.

On the last portion of its downward trip, it bears on latch 95, pushingthe trip mechanism 96 down against spring 97: As trip 96 moves downwardit pulls on cable 98, which pulls down on the bar 40. Theaction'resulting from pulling this bar 40 downward will be referred toagain hereinafter. v i

The carriage in raising cross rod 726, lifts the slotted-end of thelever 72, which is ,pivoted at 72a, thereby causing the free end of suchlever to pull down on a flexible brass strip 69,. which is connected. toa plunger or ejector mechanism 71 and operates over roller 70, saidplunger. 71 being of a thickness slightly less than the thickness ofeach record to be played, thereby allowing an appreciable clearance:between the upper Slll' face of said plunger and the lower surface ofthe record immediately superimposed above the record being ejected,during the ejecting process next described. It will,

i: therefore, be appreciated that the plunger 71 does not support any ofthe records during the ejection of the lowermost record, but that assoon as the lowermost record is re;

moved from the ledge 73, the remaining where they are temporarilysupported by that plunger until it is retracted a sufficient distance topermit the remaining records to be again moved by gravity to a positionupon the ledge 73. As the strip 69 is actuated, the plunger 71 slidesforward into the plunger guideways 71a on either side of the plunger.This plunger 71, engaging the lowermost record in the magazine 2, pushesor ejects the same from the fixed ledge 73, which fixed ledge has acurved edge conforming substantially to the periphery of a record, thecenter of curvature of which curved edge is offset with respect to thecenter of the lowermost record supported by the fixed ledge, andcontinues this ejecting movement until the lowermost record is entirelyfree of this ledge and deposits said record upon the movable platform 74which is in its elevated position, pushing said record partly through anopening 74a which is wide enough to permit only one record at a time toslide through. It will be seen that this fixed ledge 7 3,-which is ofthe peculiar shape or design described, maintains contact with a greaterpart than one-half of the peripheral margin of the lowermost of theplurality of records held in the magazine and is capable of alonesupporting such plurality of records despite the fact that its surfacecontact with the lowermost record is much less than one-half of thesquare unit surface of such lowermost record.

\ If desired, there may be provided a pivoted lever 113, protrudingthrough and into the magazine 2 which is pivoted at point 116 andconnected with spring 114 constantly pulling on the lever 113. Thehandle end 115 of lever 113 may be raised and records placed under it inthejmagazine 2 and resting on the ledge 73 and platform 74. The purmaincam wheel 55 starts rotating, by reasonof belt 59,-operating over pulley79, it starts and keeps the axle60 rotating, which axle is keyed to thewheels 60?), and which in turn carries and moves the two endlessconveyor belts 600 which move between flanges 60d to guide the record.Pulley 79a is an idler to take up the slack in the belt 59 when thecarriage is lowered to position as shown in Figure 3.

As the carriage, including the record into the delivery chute 4 andthrough which it slides gently into the receiving chamber or compartment3. This chute is semicircular in shape as shown in Figure 2. The endlessconveyor belts also pick up the ejected record off the platform 74 andthe endless conveyor belts move said record toward the turntable, therecord being guided by the flanges 60d. By the time the record reachesthe turntable the carriage has been partly lowered again b the main cam55 and the on-coming record engages stop and settles down on theturntable 29. When the main cam 55 completes the last half of its onerevolution the various motions ascribed to lever 75'and platform 74 havebeen reversed and the plunger or ejector mechanism 71 is re tracted bythe spring 81 to its original position. This completes. the cyclicoperation which accomplishes the removal of the played record from theturn-table, the ejection of the lowermost record from the fixed ledge atthe bottom of the magazine and its deposit upon the movable platform,the removal of the ejected record from said platform by the endlessconveyor belts and the transfer of this record to the turn-table by saidendless conveyor belts.

The reproducer 112, including the needle 66, is lifted, and the tone armand reproducer are swung by the mechanism appearing in Figures 5 and 6.The sleeve 82 slides up and down on. the square rod 62, This is actuatedby the pressure exerted under the lug 83 by the lug 84 on the maincarriage. Sleeve 82 can also be raised by pressure exerted under the lug16d by the repeating arm 160, when the opposite end of the repeating armis depressed by the lug 16d through rotation of the pulley 16, asillustrated in Figure 16. The pulley 16 is operated by belt 23 fromclutch member 21 as shown in Figures 2 and 9. I

The sleeve 82 has a long arm 64 projecting as shown in Figure'5. As thisarm rises, it actuates the lever 85 which-pulls down on the cable 63,passing through the hollow rod 68, and pulls down on the lever 86, whichlifts the reproducer 112. By reversing this process by the loweringof'the bar 64, the reproducer is lowered so that the needle will againrest on the record. The arm 64 in rising bends back the tip 87 of thegear'arm 88 and passes by without moving gear arm 88. As arm 64 lowers,it bears down on the tip 87, depressing gear arm 88, which actingthrough the gear teeth moves gear arm 89.

This causes the gear arm 89 to bear against the hollow rod 68, therebyswinging tone arm 67 back'towards the outeredge of the record. a

At the bottom of its trip, arm 64 passes by tip 87, enabling spring 90to act on gear arm 89, pulling same back against stop 91 resetting thismechanism. I

The top tip 92 of gear arm 89, swings back as illustrated in Figure 18,to enable gear arm 89 to exert an even pressure on hollow rod 68. Thisaction completes the lifting of needle and swinging of tone arm.

The hollow rod 68 atlixed to and protruding from the under side of tonearm 67' down through the shelf 3a, swings exactly as the tone armswings, operating in a slot 68 cut through the shelf. 'VVhen the needlepoint 66 has completed playing record 65, the tone arm 67 has reachedits innermost point, which means that hollow rod 68 has also reached itsinnermost point, and has engaged either trigger 44 or trigger 45 (seeFigures 5, 9 and 17) depending upon which position the rotatable cover46 has been placed in, as governed by lug 94 in Figure 9. If the hollowrod 68 engages trigger 44 and presses same slightly inward through tube45a the trigger 44 carries lug 44a inward, releasing lever 43, which ispivoted at 43a. Level- 43 is fastened by cable running over pulley 36down to one of the springs 35, which springs are at a tension. Thetension of springs 35, operating over pulley 36, swings lever 43 so thatits ,end engages bar 47, which, controlling the main pulley 18, slidessame against clutch member 20, which movement starts the automaticrecord changing mechanism.

Referring again to. the trip mechanism,

(see Figures 7 and 8) as the bar 64 pushes trip'96 downward, the trip 96also moves backward by reason of thelugs 99. sliding in slanting slots100. ,The angle of slot 100 is so fixed-that as the trip slides downwardit also is ushed back so that the latch will become ree of the bar 64,enabling spring 97 to push trip 96 back up into its original position,thereby reset-ting the trip.

I The bar 40 is pivoted at point 101 as shown in Figure 11. Its downwardmotion operat ing through latch 41, presses down on bar 102, which isfixedto sleeve 32, sliding and rotating on the round rod 38. The otherside of sleeve 32 carries bar 31,-so that moving the sleeve moves bothbar 31 and bar 102. The sleeve 32 is fastened by cable 103, to lever 33,as illustrated in Figure 15, which shows the bottom view of the clutchhousing. Lever 33 is fastened by cable 34, operating over pulley 104, tothe main springs 35, as

illustrated in Figure 10. It must be borne in mind that bar 31 isstationary, resting in a small niche in the end of casting 37, asillustrated in Figure 9. As bar 102 is depressed by latch 41, it turnsthe sleeve 32,

turning bar 31, which slides it out of said niche, into the slot shownbetween castings 37 and 105, as illustrated in Figure 9. The tension ofsprings 35, operating through lever 33, pulls the sleeve 32 and slidesbar 31 down this slot into space 105a, where bar 31- is immediatelypicked up by the rotation of worm gear30, which is fixed to the end ofmain shaft 19, as shown in Figure 9. This worm gear 30 revolvesconstantly.

With the bar 31 in its present position in space 105a and the sleeve 32in its present position, all tension is taken off the main springs 35.This enables the spring 106 (see Figure 9) to retract lever 43 until itrests against stop 107. The slot in the curved end of lever 43 is thenin position to receive lug 44a which immediately is pushed into thisslot by the action of spring 108, pressing against trigger '44. In thismanner the com plete clutch and its tripping mechanism are operated andreset for the next operation.

Now refer to bar 31, which is 'resting for an instant only in space105a, (see Figure 9). The rotation of wormgear 30 causes said worm gearto pick up bar 31 and carry it outward towards the end of casting 37.The outward end of the worm gear 30 isso constructed eccentrically as toset off the bar 31 into its niche in casting 37. This outward motion ofbar 31 carrying with it the sleeve 32 operating through the lever 33,and the attached cables has re-drawn the springs 35 until they are oncemore at a strong tension. It will now be seen that the entire mechanismhas been in operation and has passed through its various bases, and isnow in the re-set position, rea y for the next tripping of the triggerseither 44 or 45, by the hollow rod 68, which tone arm 67.

The above includes a description vof the operations resulting from thetripping of trigger 44. When the trigger 45 istripped by the hollow rod68, by reason of fact housing 46 has been turned into the repeatposition,

its action becomes apparent when Figure 14 i is studied, Figure 14 beingan underneath view taken along the dotted line 14, as shown in Figure10. Lug 44b is pressed out of the slot in the curved end of rod 436,enabling the cable running over ulley 36a to the main springs 35, toswing t e lever 43?), so that its end engages the bar 47, which slidesthe sleeve 49a in the opposite direction so that main pulley 18 willengage the clutch member 21 (see Figure 9), which operates the repeatingmechanism as illustrated in Figure 16, above described.

It should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to theparticular construction here shown, but may be modified, suchalterations and changes to come within tire scope and meaning of theappended c aims. a

projects downward from the What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a turn table, a magazineadaptedfor the reception of a plurality of recordsto be played, acarriage including a conveyor adapted to transfer records to and fromsaid turn table, means for successively ejecting the lowermostrecordfrom said magazine, means. for placing the ejected records on saidconveyor to be transferred to said turn table, driving means for drivingsaid conveyor and forraising and lowering said carriage in transferringrecords to and from said turn table, a main shaft, a clutch mechanismassociated with said shaft, clutch actuating means controlling theraisin and lowering of said carriage, and a com ined delivery chute andcompartmentadapted to receive the played records as they are transferredfrom said turn table.

2. In a machine of the class described, a

turn table, a magazine adapted for the reception of a plurality ofrecords to be played, a

carriage including horizontally arranged conveyor belts adapted totransfer records to and from said turn table, a trackway over which gbelts ,to be transferred to said turn table,

driving means for driving said conveyor belts. and for raising andlowering said carriage in transferring to and from said turn table, amain shaft, a clutch mechanism associated with said shaft, clutchactuating means controlling the raisin and lowering of said carriage,and a com ined delivery chute and compartment adapted to receive theplayed regclirds as they are transferred from said turn ta e.

3. ,A machine for successively playing phonograph records comprising aframework including a magazine adapted for the reception of a pluralityof records to be played. means for ejecting the records suc- 119cessively from said 'magazine; means for lowering the ejected records, acarriage including conveyor belts upon which the records are receivedfrom said magazine, means for moving said belts, a turn table adapted toreceive the records to be played from said belt, means for raisin andlowering said carriage at predetermine speeds and times, and means forrepeatedly playing a selected record.

rotating said turn table, a magazineadapted to hold in a stackedrelation a plurality of records to be played, fixed supporting means Fnormally supporting said records, ejector 4. In a phonograph,a turntable, means for 12o means for ejecting the lowermost record from 1 saidmagazine and for temporarily supporting the remaining records in saidmagazine,

and means for transferring the ejected records successively to said turntable.

5. In a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn table, amagazine adapted to hold in a stacked relation a plurality of records tobe played, record transferring means adapted to transfer records to saidturn table, a bottom for said magazine including a pair of relativelymovable members cooperating with each other to normally support saidrecords in said stacked relation, one

endless conveyor, means for successively plac ing the records to beplayed on said conveyor, and means for operating said conveyor wherebythe records to be played are successively transferred to said turntable.

7. In a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn table, amagazine adaptedto hold a plurality of records to be played, an endlessconveyor, means for successively placing the records to be played onsaid conveyor, means for operating said .conveyor whereby the records tobe played are successively transferred to a position over said turntable, and means for effecting relative movement between said turn tableand saidconveyor whereby the records to be played are successivelyplaced on said turn table.

8. In a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn table, amagazine ada ted to hold a plurality of records to be played an endlessconveyor, means for successively placing the records to be played onsaid conveyor, means for operating said conveyor whereby the records tobe played are successively transferred to a position over said turntable. and means for efiecting relative movement between said turn tableand said conveyor whereby the records to be played are successivelyplaced on said turn table, and the played records are successivelyplaced on said conveyor to be moved out of the path of the oncomingrecords. I I

9. In a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn table, amagazine adapted tohold a plurality of records to be played, an endlessconveyor including a plurality of conveyor belts adapted for s nchronousmovement, means for successive y placing the records to be played onsaid conveyor belts, and means for operating said conveyor belts insynchrony whereby the records to be played are successively transferredto said turn table.

10. In a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn table, amagazine adapted to hold a plurality of records to be played, an endlessconveyor including a plurality of conveyor belts arranged in ahorizontal position and disposed in a parallel relation and adapted forsynchronous movement, means for successively placing the records to beplayed on'said conveyor belts, and means for operating said conveyorbelts in synchrony whereby the records to be played are successivelytransferred to said turn table.

11. In a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn. table,a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of records to be played, aconveyor adapted to receive rec ords successively from said magazine andtransfer them to a position over said turn table, a restraining device,and actuating means for effecting relative movement between saidconveyor and said restraining device, whereby the oncoming records areso positioned as to be engaged by said restraining'device.

12. In a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn table, amagazine adapted to hold a plurality of records to be played, a conveyoradapted to receive records successively from said magazine and transferthem to a position over said turn table, a restraining device, and meansfor lowering and raising said conveyorwhereby the records to bevplayedare moved into a position to be engaged by said restrainingdevice andare placed upon said turn table and the played records are removed fromsaid turn table and elevated to a position to be thereafter transferredout of the way of the on-coming records free of said restraining device.

13. In a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn table, amagazine adapted to hold a plurality of records to-be played, an endlessconveyor, means for successively placing the records to be played onsaid conveyor, means for operating said conveyor whereby the records tobe played are successively transferred to a position over said turntable, and means for lowering the conveyor with respect to said turntable whereby the records to be played are successively placed on saidturn table.

14. In a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn table, amagazine adapted to hold a plurality of records to be played, an endlessconveyor, means for successively placing the records to be played onsaid conveyor, means for operating said conveyor whereby the records tobe played are successively transferred to a position over said tnrntable, and means for lowering and raising said conveyor with respect tosaid are successively placed on said turn table and the played recordsare successively removed I from said turn table by said conveyor to bempived out ofthe path of the oncoming recor s.

15. In a phonograph, a turn table, means for successively placingrecords on said platform, and means for raising and lowering saidconveyor with respect to said platform whereby the played record isremoved from said turn table and the record carried by said latform istransferred to said conveyor to moved to a position directly above saidturntable and thereafter deposited on said turn table during thelowering movement of said conveyor.

16. In a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn table, amagazine adapted for the reception of a plurality of records to beplayed, a'conveyor adapted to transfer records to said turn table, aplatform at the bottom of said magazine, means for successively placingrecords on said platform, and means for moving said conveyor toward saidplatform and for simultaneously moving said platform toward saidconveyor whereby the played record is lifted from saidtturn table bysaid conveyor and moved out of the path of the next record to be playedand whereby the record carried by said platform is deposited upon saidconveyor to be transferred to a position directly'over said turn table.

17. In a phonograph, a'turn table, means for rotating said turn table, ama azine adapted for the reception of a plurallty of records to beplayed, a conveyor adapted to transfer records to said turn table, aplatform at the bottom of said magazine, means for successively placingrecords on said platform, and means for moving said conveyor toward saidplatform and for simultaneously moving said platform toward saidconveyor whereby the played record is lifted from said turn table bysaid conveyor and moved out of the path of the next record to be pla edand whereby the record carried by said p atform is deposited upon saidconveyor to be transferred to a position directly over said turn table,and means for moving said conveyor away from said platform and forsimultaneously moving said platform away from said conveyor, whereby thesaid next record to be played is deposited upon said turn table andwhereby said platform is caused to assume its normal position at thelower end of said magazine.

18. In a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn table, amagazine adapted to hold in a stacked relation a plu rality of recordsto be played, record transferring means adapted to transfer records tosaid turn table, a bottom for said magazine including a pair ofrelatively movable members cooperating with each other to normallysupport said records in stacked relation,

aeoaaao one of said members being adapted to receive from the other ofsaid member the lowermost record of the stack in a position to betransferred to said record transferring means, means for lowering saidone of said members "and for raising said record transferring means,whereby the record carried by said one of said members is deposited uponsaid record transferringmeans to be thereafter transferred to said turntable.

19. In a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn table, amagazine adapted for the reception of a plurality of records to beplayed, a conveyor adapted to transfer records to said turn table, aplatform at the bottom of said magazine, means for successively placingrecords on said platform in a position to be moved as said platform ismoved, and means for moving said platform whereby the record carriedthereby is placed upon said conveyor to be transferred to said turntable.

20. In a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn table, amagazine adapted for the reception of a plurality 0'1 records to beplayed, a conveyor adapted to transfer records to said turn table, aplatform at the bottom of said magazine, means for successively placingrecords on said platform in a position to be lowered as said platform islowered and means for lowering said platform whereby the record carriedthereby is placed upon said conveyor to be transferredto said turntable. t

21.- In a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn table,a magazine adapted for the reception of a plurality of records to beplayed, a conveyor adapted to transfer records to said turn table, aplatform at the bottom of said magazine, means for successively placingrecords on saidplatform in a position to be moved as said platform ismoved, means for moving said platform whereby the record carried therebyis placed upon said conveyor to be moved to a posi- .tion over said turntable, and means for effecting relative movement between said conveyorand said turn table whereby the record positioned above said turn tableis removed from said conveyor.

22. In a phonograph, a reproducing device, a turn table, means forrotating said turn table, a magazine adapted for the reception of aplurality of records to be played, a conveyor adapted to transferrecords to said turn table, a platform at the bottom of said magazine,means for successively placing records on said platform in a position tobe moved as said platform is moved, means for moving said platformwhereby the record carried thereby is placed upon said conveyor to bemoved to a position over said turn table, and means for effectingrelative movement between said conveyor and said turn table whereby therecord positioned above said turn table is removed from said conveyor,and means for returning said reproducing device to starting positionafter the playing of each record. 7 v

23. In a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn table, amagazine adapted to hold in a stacked relation a plurality of records tobe played, conveyor belts, means for successively placing the lowermostof said records on said conveyor, belts, and

means for operating said conveyor belts records to be played, an endlessconveyor,

means for placing a record from said record holding means on saidconveyor, means for operating said conveyor whereby the record to beplayed is free to move to a position over said turn table, and means foreffecting relative movement between said conveyor and said turn tablewhereby the played record is deposited upon said conveyor and the recordnext to be played is transferred from said conveyor to said turn table.e

26. In a phonograph, a-turn table, means for rotating said turn table, amagazine adapted to hold a plurality of records to be played, recordtransferring means adapted to transfer records to said turn table, abottom for said magazine including a fixed member and a movable memberadaptedto co-operate with each other to normally support said records insaid magazine, one of said members being adapted toreceive from theother of said members a record from said magazine in a position to betransferred to said record transferring means, and means for moving saidmovable member into a position to transfer the record thereon to saidrecord transferrin means.

27. n a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn table, arecord holding means adapted to hold a plurality of records to "beplayed, and a bottom for said record holding means inclnding a fixedmember and a movable member cooperating with each other to normallysupport said records in said record holding means, one of said mem bersbeing adapted to-receive from the other of said members a record inposition to be subse uently transferred to said turn table.

28.. n a phonograph, a turn table, means for rotating said turn table, amagazine adapted to hold in a stacked relation a plurality of records tobe played, a crescent shaped ledge plate at the bottom of said magazine,

said ledge plate being normally in contact with the lowermost of saidrecords throughout the greater portion of its peripheral,

'margin, means for ejecting the lowermostrecofd from said magazine, theremain ng records being retained in a supported posit on by said ledgeplate during such ejectlon, and means for transferring the ejectedrecords successively to said turntable.

29. In a phonograph, a. turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold a plurallt of records to beplayed,a bottom for said record holding means including a fixed member and amovable member cooperating with each'other to support said records, oneof said members being adapted'to receive from the other of said membersa record in'a position to-be' subsequently transferred to saidturn-table, and

record-transferring means including said movable member. 4

30. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holdlng means adapted to hold a plurality of records to beplayed, a bottom for said record holding means including a fixed memberand a movable member cooperating with each other to support saidrecords, one of said members being adapted to receive from the other ofsaid members arecord in a position to be subsequently transferred tosaid turn-table, and record-transferring means including said movablemember,'and means for actuating said record-transferring means wherebythe record to be played is transferred to said turntable. I

31. In a phonograph, a reproducing device, a turn-table, means forcontinuously rotating said turn-table, a record holding I means adaptedto hold a plurality of records to be played, a bottom for said recordholding means including a fixed member and a movable member, saidmovable member being adapted to receive from the other a record-to besubsequently transferred to said turntable, record-transferring meansincluding said movable member adapted to receive records successivelyfrom said record holding means and transfer them to said turn-table, andoperating means adapted for cyclic operation for raising and loweringsaid recordtransferri'ng means whereby during the lowering operation ofsaid record-transferring means the record carried thereby and to beplayed is placed upon said turn-table.

32. In a phonograph, a reproducing device, a turn-table,- means forcontinuously rotating said turn-table, record holding means adapted tohold a plurality of records to be played,

a bottom for said record holding means ineluding a fixed member and amovable member, said movable member being adapted table,,recordtransferring means including said movable member adapted to receiverecords successively from said record holdlng means and transfer them tosaid turn-table, operating means adapted for cyclic operation forraising and lowerin said record-transferring means whereby uring thelowermg operation of said record-transferring means the record carriedthereby and to be played is placed upon said turn-table, meanscontrolled by said reproducing device for setting said operating meansin operation, and means for returning said reproducing device tostarting position.

' 33. In aphonograph,aturn-table, continuously operated means forrotating said turntable, record holding means adapted for the receptionof a plurality of records to be played and having a bottom includin afixed member and a movable member, recor -transferring means'adapted totransfer records to said turn-table and including said movable member atthe bottom of said magazine, means for successively placing records onsaid movable member in a position to be moved as said movable member ismoved, and means for actuating said record-transferring means wherebythe records successively placed on said movable member are trans ferredto said turn-table.

34. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted for the reception of a plurality of recordsto be played and having a bottom including a fixed and a movable member,operable record-transferring means adapted to transfer records to saidturn-table and including said movable member for successively receivingrecords from said fixed member in a position to be moved as said movablemember is 'moved, means for oper ating said record-transferring meanswhereby "the record carried by said movable member is moved to aposition to be subsequently transferred to said turn-table and wherebyrelative movement is effected between saidrecord-transferring means andsaid turntable to deliver the record from said record transferring meansto said turn-table.

35. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold a plurality of records to beplayed, a fixed ledge supporting said records and having a curved edgeconforming substantially with the periphery of a record, ejecting meansadapted to cooperate with one of said records and remove it from saidledge, and means for transferring the ejected records successively tosaid turntable. 'e

36. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to receive a plurahty of records in astacked relation, a fixed ledge sup- 1,so2,sso

porting the stack of records and having a curved edge conformingsubstantially to the periphery of a record, the center of curvature ofwhich curved edge is offset with respect to the center of the lowermostrecord in its supported position while upheld by said fixed ledge,ejecting means adapted to cooperate with the lowermost record and moveit out of engagement with the fixed ledge, and means for transferringthe ejected records successively to said turn-table.

37. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding meansadapted to hold in a stacked relation a plurality ofrecords to be played, an ejector mechanism including a fixed ledge and areciprocatory plunger, means for actuating said plunger whereby thelowermost recbrd is removed from said ledge, the remaining recordsbeingupheldby said ejector mechanism, and means for transferring theejected records successively to said turn-table.

38. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold in a stacked relation a pluralityof records to be played, operable means for ejecting the lowermostrecord from said record holding means, a fixed ledge for supporting therecords during such time as said ejector means remains inactive, oneedge of said ledge conforming substantially to the periphery of arecord, and means for transferring the ejected records successively tosaid turn-table and including a support to which the records aresuccessively transferred from said fixed ledge by said e ector means.

39. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold in a stacked relation a pluralityof records to be played, operable means for ejecting the lowermostrecord from said record holding means, a fixed ledge for supporting therecords during such time as said ejector means remains inactive, oneedge of said ledge conforming substantially to the periphery of a recordand having its center of curvature ofi'set with respect to the center ofthe lowermost record in its normally sup ported position, and means fortransferring the ejected records successively to said turntable andincluding a support to which the records are successively transferredfrom said fixed ledge by said ejector means.

40. In a phonograph, aturn-table means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold a plurality of records to beplayed, operable means for ej ecting'the lowermost record from saidrecord holding means, a fixed ledge for supporting the records duringsuch time as said ejector means remains inactive, and means fortransferring the ejected records successively to said turntable andincluding a support adapted to be raised and lowered and to which therecords are successively transferred by said ejector means adapted tohold-in a stacked relation a means from said fixed ledge.

41. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold a plurality of records to beplayed, an ejector mechanism including a fixed ledge, one edge of whichconforms substantially to the periphery of a record and a reciprocatoryplunger, means for actuating said plunger whereby the lowermost recordis removed from said ledge, the remaining records being upheld by saidejector mechanism, and means for transferring-the ejected recordssuccessively to said turntable.

42. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold in a stacked relation a pluralityof records to be played, an ejector mechanism including a fixed ledgehaving a curved edge conforming substantially to the periphery of arecord, the center of curvature of which curved edge is oifset withrespect to the center of the lowermost record in its normally supportedposition when upheld by said fixed ledge, and a reciprocatory plunger,means for actuating said plunger whereby the lowermost record is removedfrom said ledge, the remaining records being,

upheld by said ejector mechanism, and means for transferring the ejectedrecords successively to said turn-table.

43. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold a plurality of records to beplayed, means for successively ejecting records from said record holdingmeans, a bottom for said record holding means including a fixed memberand a movable member adapted to cooperate with each other to supportsaid records in said record holding means including the record beingejected, one of said members being adapted to receive from the other ofsaid members the ejected record in a position to be subsequentlytransferred to said turn-table.

44. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold in a stacked relation a pluralityof records to be played, means for successively ejecting records fromsaid record holding means, a bottom for said record holding meansincluding a fixed ledge having a curved edge conforming substantially tothe periphery of a record and a movable member,

' said fixed ledge and movable member being adapted to cooperate witheach other to support said records in said record holding meansincludingthe record being ejected, said movable member being adapted to receivefrom said ledge the ejected record in a position to be subsequentlytransferred to said turn-table.

45. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding a plurality of records to be played, means forsuccessively ejecting records from said record holding means, a bottomfor said record holding means including a fixed ledge having a curvededge conforming substantially to the periphery of a record, which curvededge is 0 set with respect to the center of curvature of the lowermostrecord in its normally supported position when upheld by said fixedledge, and a movable member adapted to cooperate with said fixed ledgeto support said records in said record holding means, including therecord being ejected, said movable member being adapted to receive fromsaid ledge the ejected record in a position to be subsequentlytransferred to said turn-table.

46. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold a plurality of records to beplayed, means for successively ejecting records from said record holdingmeans, a bottom for said magazine, including a fixed member and amovable member adapted to cooperate with each other to support saidrecords in said record holding means including the record being ejected,said movable member being adapted to receive from said fixed member theejected record in a position to be subsequently transferred to saidturntable, and means for moving said movable member in the process oftransferring said record to said turn-table. I,

47. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold in a stacked relation a pluralityof records to be played, means for successively ejecting records fromsaid record holding means, a bottom for said magazine including a fixedledge, one edge of which conforms substantiall to the periphery of arecord and a mova 1e member, said fixed ledge and movable member beingadapted to cooperate with each other to support said records in saidrecord holding means including the record being ejected, said movablemember being adapted to re- -ceive from said ledge the ejected record ina position to be subsequently transferred to said turn-table, and meansfor moving said movable member in the process of transferring saidrecord to said turn-table.

48. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold in a stacked relation a pluralityof records to be played, means for successively ejecting records fromsaid record holding means, a bottom for said magazine including a fixedledge having aadapted to cooperate with said ledge to support saidrecords in said record holding means including the record being ejected,

said movable member being adapted to receive from said ledge the ejectedrecord in a position to be subsequently transferred to said turn-table,and means for moving said movable member in the process of transfer-'ring said record to said turn-table.

49. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold a plurality of records to beplayed, record-transferring means adapted to receive recordssuccessively from said record holding means and transfer them to aposition over said turn-table, restraining means located in the, ath ofmovement of the record. being trans erred to said turn ing devicecooperating with record-transferring means to correctly center therecord being transferred with respect to the turntable and means forlowering saidconveyor whereby sald restraining device is renderedeffective to perform its restraining and cen-.

tering functions and whereby said record is deposited upon saidturn-table.

51. In a phonograph, a turntable having a centrally located recordreceiving post, means for rotating said turn-table, record holding meansadapted to hold a plurality of records to be played, record-transferringmeans to receive records successively from said record holding means andtransfer them to a position over said turn-table, restraining meanslocated in the path of movement of the record being transferred to saidturntable and adapted to cooperate with recordtransferring means and toengage the record being transferred for so locating that'record withrespect to said turn-table as to insure its being centrally deposited onsaid record receivin post, and means for lifting the playe record fromsaid record receiving post whereby its removal from said turntable andits transferal out of the path of the next record to be played isfacilitated.

52. In a phonograph, a turn-table having a centrally located recordreceiving post, means for rotating said turn-table, record holding meansadapted to hold a plurality of records to be played, record-transferringmeans- I adapted to receive records successively from said record fholding means and to transfer them to a position over said turn-table, arestraining device cooperating with recordtransferring means tocorrectly center the record being transferred with respect to theturn-table, means forlowering record-transferring means whereby saidrestraining device is rendered effective to perform its restraining andcentering functions and said record is deposited upon said recordreceiving post, and means for lifting the played record from said postwhereby its removal from said turn-table and its transferal out of thepath of the next record to be played is facilitated.

i 53. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold in a stacked relation a pluralityof records to be played and having a bottom including a fixed ledge anda movable member, ejector mechanism including said fixed ledge and areciprocatory plunger, means for actuating said plunger whereby thelowermost record is removed from said ledge, the remaining records beingupheld by said ejector mechanism, and means for transferring saidrecords successively to said turn-table.

54. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold in a stacked relation a pluralityof records to be played and having a bottom including a fixed ledge anda movable member, ejector mechanism including said fixed ledge and areciprocatory plunger, operable record-transferring means fortransferring records successively to said turn-table and including saidmovable member, means for actuating said plunger whereby the lowermostrecord is removed from saidledge and deposited upon said movable memberin a position to be moved as said movable member is moved, the remainingrecords being upheld by said ejector mechanism, operating means for saidrecord-transferring means whereby the record deposited upon said movablemember is moved to a position to be subse-v quently transferred to saidturn-table and whereby relative movement with respect to said turn-tableis effected so that the record carried by said record-transferring meansis transferred to said turn-table.

55. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold in a stacked relation a pluralityof records to be played and having a'bottom including a fixed ledgehaving one edge conforming substantially to the periphery of a recordand a movable member, ejector mechanism including said fixed ledge and areciprocatory plunger, means for actuating said plunger whereby thelowermost record is removed from said ledge, the remaining records beingupheld by said ejector mechanism, and means for transferring saidejected records successively to said turn-table.

56. In a phonograph, a turn-table, means for rotating said turn-table,record holding means adapted to hold in a stacked relation a plurality.of records to be played and having a bottom including a fixed ledgehaving one edge conforming substantially to the periphery of a recordand a movable member, said ledge having a curved edge conformingsubstantially to the periphery of a record, the center of curvature ofsaid ledge being offset with respect to the center of the lowermostrecord of the stack in its normally supported position, ejectormechanism including said fixed ledge and a reciprocatory plunger, meansfor actuating said plunger whereby the lowermost record is removed fromsaid ledge, the remaining records being upheld by said ejectormechanism, and means for transferring said ejected records successivelyto aid turn-table.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE H. PITTMAN.

